It is … prohibited to attack … objects indispensable to the civilian population, e.g. production of foodstuffs, clothing, drinking water installations, with the aim to prevent the civilian population from being supplied.

Germany, Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts – Manual, DSK VV207320067, edited by The Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, VR II 3, August 1992, English translation of ZDv 15/2, HumanitäresVölkerrecht in bewaffnetenKonflikten – Handbuch, August 1992, § 463.

The manual further states:

Grave breaches of international humanitarian law are in particular: … starvation of civilians by destroying, removing or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population (e.g. foodstuffs, means for the production of foodstuffs, drinking water installations and supplies, irrigation works).

Germany, Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts – Manual, DSK VV207320067, edited by The Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, VR II 3, August 1992, English translation of ZDv 15/2, HumanitäresVölkerrecht in bewaffnetenKonflikten – Handbuch, August 1992, § 1209.

Germany’s Soldiers’ Manual (2006) states: “The objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population (e.g. drinking water installations) may not be destroyed.”

Germany’s Law Introducing the International Crimes Code (2002) punishes anyone who, in connection with an international or a non-international armed conflict, “uses starvation of civilians as a method of warfare by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival”.

At the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent in 1995, Germany stated: “The deprivation of resources necessary for survival, such as water, [has] been used repeatedly and [has] to be condemned.”

Germany, Statement at the 26th International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, Geneva, 3–7 December 1995.

Germany’s Military Manual (1992) provides: “Any deviations from this prohibition [attacking objects indispensable for the survival of the civilian population] shall be permissible only on friendly territory if required by imperative military necessity.”

Germany, Humanitarian Law in Armed Conflicts – Manual, DSK VV207320067, edited by The Federal Ministry of Defence of the Federal Republic of Germany, VR II 3, August 1992, English translation of ZDv 15/2, HumanitäresVölkerrecht in bewaffnetenKonflikten – Handbuch, August 1992, § 463.